How many years on credit report?

dutchcloggie

Hello,

I requested a statutory credit report from Experian. But I was only asked to enter addresses for the last 6 years and when the report came, it only went back to cover the addresses I had given. I emailed Experian for more information but I have not heard anything.

I know companies don't always keep files beyond 7 years but I am desperate for ANYTHING that links my name with some of my addresses between 2004-2010 so I was hoping the credit report would help with that. I was under the understanding that this would show everything from ever if you ever took out a contract like mobile phone or utilities etc?

cjmillsnun

Your credit file shows your credit activity for the last 6 years.

For addresses beyond that, how about the historic electoral registers?

dutchcloggie

Ah! I have always been a diligent girl with those. Would I ask the council about those?

PixelPound

Do you not know what addresses you lived at, or is it proof that you lived at those addresses? Your local council hold the records and you can ask to see, but you ask for the street and they will show you the register of the polling district which shows everyone who lived there.

There are also online databases where you can search by name (they typically hold electoral registers since 2002).

dutchcloggie

Yes I know my addresses. Just meant: how do I go about having access to the registers. I'll have a hunt around. Thanks for the tip!

dutchcloggie

Sorry, yes I meant I need proof that I lived somewhere.

StopIt

dutchcloggie wrote: »

Hello,

I requested a statutory credit report from Experian. But I was only asked to enter addresses for the last 6 years and when the report came, it only went back to cover the addresses I had given. I emailed Experian for more information but I have not heard anything.

I know companies don't always keep files beyond 7 years but I am desperate for ANYTHING that links my name with some of my addresses between 2004-2010 so I was hoping the credit report would help with that. I was under the understanding that this would show everything from ever if you ever took out a contract like mobile phone or utilities etc?

Not entirely correct.


Your credit files show active accounts, and closed accounts for 6 years after they were closed.


Your credit history is linked to you, not your address, so if you moved more than 6 years ago, and have updated your addresses with any active accounts, it wont show any addresses older than 6 years old anyway.


If you're looking for proof of address from before 6 years ago, you'll need to find paperwork as alas, your credit files wont help here.


Edit: https://www.gov.uk/electoral-register/view-electoral-register


It's all kept by local councils, so you would need to contact the council responsible for you before 2010.

dutchcloggie

Cool. I shall have a look into that. i have always opted out of the edited register so I hope I can still find what I need. Tell you what, this Brexit malarkey is making life very hard for us poor Europeans who'd like to stay here ;(